News Article

I trusted in Duffy - Sanjoy Sen

Sanjoy Sen feels his players need to concentrate on their next match because the goal isn't yet fulfilled....

Mohun Bagan are currently enjoying a dream start to their I-League campaign this year as they defeated Shillong Lajong FC with a score of 2-0 and secured another three points to their points tally. Mohun Bagan star forward Darryl Duffy scored both the goals in the match as the Mariners secured their second win on Friday against Shillong Lajong. Sen revealed that he “trusted” the Scot and decided to start the forward after his performance against Churchill Brothers in the previous match.

“I trusted Duffy and started him based on that trust,” said Sen in the post-match conference in Kolkata. “When I was building this team, we needed four or five players, to begin with. I proposed Duffy’s name at that time,” the Mohun Bagan Head Coach further added. Sen also blasted Duffy’s critics based on the striker’s performance in the Calcutta Football League, “Many people told many things about him and his performance in the Calcutta League. But, Calcutta League and I-League are two very different things.” Sen praised the forward’s efforts in both the goals he scored in the match but also warned that the Scot has to maintain his current performance through to the end of the season as the team will need many more goals from the 32-years-old.

“It is very nice that he scored twice today,” said Sanjoy Sen. “But we need him to score more goals in the future. We certainly need goals,” Sen further added. The Bengali coach was asked about how he managed to motivate the English forward previously when he replied, “I didn’t just motivate Duffy. I motivated the entire squad.”

The Mariners’ Head Coach revealed that he is already thinking about the next match and expects his players to do the same. “We have to leave this match behind and have to start the next match with a clean slate. I always tell this to my players and will continue to do that,” said the winning coach. Sen was also asked about midfielder Sehnaj Singh’s injury in the second half when he answered, “He is currently being attended to by doctors. He picked up an injury in his ribs. But, he is a strong player and I am sure he will bounce back.”

With the win against Shillong Lajong FC in their second fixture of I-League 2017, Mohun Bagan now top the league standings with six points in two matches.